Officer Subspecialty
PATHOL
Pathology
An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.
Description
Pathologists provide diagnostic information to patients and clinicians impacting nearly all aspects of patient care, from diagnosing cancer to managing chronic disease through accurate, targeted laboratory testing. They are also charged with the oversight and management of clinical laboratories while serving as interpretive consultants to multiple medical and surgical specialties.
Core Skills
- anatomic pathology
- clinical pathology
- histopathology
- cytopathology
- laboratory medicine
- laboratory quality management
- diagnostic test interpretation
- molecular diagnostics
- clinical consultation
Common Certifications
- American Board of Pathology Certification
- Medical Laboratory Director Certification
- ASCP Board of Certification Credential
- Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Laboratory Director Qualification
- Medical Doctor License
- Controlled Substance Registration Certificate
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Civilian Career Paths
- MEDICAL LABORATORY
- CLINICAL TECHNICIAN
- PUBLIC HEALTH
- NURSING
Training & Development
Getting Started
- Medical Doctor License
- American Board of Pathology Certification
- ASCP Board of Certification Credential
- Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Laboratory Director Qualification
Career Growth
- American Board of Pathology Subspecialty Certification
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Certification
- Medical Laboratory Director Certification
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Data sourced from official Navy publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.